XN000022-1982-02-10 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982

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OPERATION OF DESALTER

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD ASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER WOULD BE SUSPENDED AS SOON AS IT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SUPPLY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM.

MR MCDONALD SAID, +ALTHOUGH WE ARE APPROACHING THE RAINY SEASON, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN IT WILL COMMENCE NOR HOW MUCH RAINFALL OR YIELD WILL BE RECEIVED SUBSEQUENTLY.+

+BEARING IN MIND THESE UNKNOWN FACTORS AND THE PRESENT COMPARATIVELY LOW LEVEL OF STORAGE IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO SUSPEND THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER AT THIS TIME.-

•HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE SITUATION IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED AND A REVIEW IS PLANNED FOR LATE APRIL, OR EARLIER IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IT, TO DETERMINE THE SUPPLY AND DESALTER ARRANGEMENTS TO BE FOLLOWED THEREAFTER.+

PLAN TO ENLARGE REHABUS SERVICE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO SUBVENT AN ADDITIONAL THREE BUSES FROM APRIL THIS YEAR TO EXPAND THE REHABUS SCHEME FLEET FROM 11 TO 14 BUSES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON S.E. ALLEYNE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER C. WONG, MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST AT THE END OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

*THE REHABUS PROVIDES SERVICES ON SCHEDULED ROUTES PRIMARILY TO ASSIST SEVERELY PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO REACH THEIR PLACES OF WORK, VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES OR SHELTERED WORKSHOPS,+ MR ALLEYNE SAID.

+THE REHABUS ALSO PROVIDES A DIAL-A-RIDE' SERVICE THROUGH WHICH DISABLED PEOPLE OR GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS CAN CHARTER A BUS EITHER FOR SPECIFIC TASKS LIKE ATTENDING MEDICAL TREATMENT OR FOR RECREATIONAL OUTINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

+OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS NEARLY 2 500 REQUESTS FOR THE DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE WERE RECEIVED, HE SAID.

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